Sunday, 30 September 2012

We received an email a few days ago from a John O'Neill. He conveyed sad news about what is happening to Carrigglas Manor, the former home of the Lefroys (including our Tom Lefroy, of course). John went to Carrigglas earlier last year, and found the estate to be in an unkept condition.

It seems that whatever hotel/estate development it was meant to be done in Carrigglas isn't happening now. We wrote several posts about Carrigglas here, here and here. Sad that that Tom Lefroy's symbol of pride and love is now in an utterly desperate state....

This weeks quote is from chapter XII, page 370 of Tom Lefroy's memoir.

"I feel that any memorial of him would be wanting which omitted to notice his unalterable cheerfulness under the little every-day crosses of life. Though the shadow of a cloud might flit past, it seemed as if it could never long obscure the sunshine of his temper or his countenance. If a wet day interfered with some cherished plan for a holiday excursion (and he retained to the very last an almost childlike enjoyment of such occasions) we were sure soon to hear some such remark as "well, only think of the good this gracious rain will do in the country," or "Really when I come to think of it, 'tis a decided advantage to me to have the day at home."

Monday, 24 September 2012

This week, I was lucky enough to receive a nice email from Mariana Georghe who analysed a passage from Sense & Sensibility versus The Memoir of Chief Justice Lefroy. Thank you Mariana for the email!

-xxx-

Hello
dear Ladies,

I’m
sending you a quick note regarding Westminster school that may be of use to you
for the blog, containing few paragraphs from Sense and Sensibility and from Tom
Lefroy’s Memoir. Now that we know Tom’s uncle, I. P. George Lefroy and his son
J. Henry George Lefroy were sent to Westminster - a public school, with the recommendation
from their uncle, Benjamin Langlois (according to the Notes and documents relating to the family of Loffroy, by a cadet [J.H.
Lefroy] ), and that Tom Lefroy instead had received
private education, being the pupil of Rev Burrowes between 1790-95 when he met
Mary Paul, maybe we’ll read with different eyes the story of Edward Ferrars and
the following paragraph from Chapter 36:

"Upon
my soul," he added, "I believe it is nothing more; and so I often
tell my mother, when she is grieving about it. 'My dear Madam,' I always say to
her, 'you must make yourself easy. The evil is now irremediable, and it has
been entirely your own doing. Why would
you be persuaded by my uncle, Sir Robert, against your own judgment, to place Edward under private tuition, at
the most critical time of his life? If you had only sent him to Westminster as well as myself, instead of sending him to Mr. Pratt's, all this would have been prevented.'
This is the way in which I always consider the matter, and my mother is
perfectly convinced of her error."

“Elinor
would not oppose his opinion, because, whatever
might be her general estimation of the advantage of a public school, she could not think of Edward's abode in
Mr. Pratt's family, with any
satisfaction.”We know that Edward and Lucy met while Edward studiedwith Lucy's uncle, Mr. Pratt, and have been secretly engaged for four
years. Edward was a pupilof
Lucy's uncle in Plymouth, and that is
where their relationship began.Based on the Memoir [pages 3, 14 and 20], Tom Lefroy, “after a private education entered
the University of Dublin, on the 2nd November, 1790, at the early
age of fourteen.” The distance between Limerick and Dublin being “at that time
a work of three days”, Tom was sent to a college tutor, Rev Dr. Burrowes “who
kindly consented to receive him into his family circle”. In the Memoir we are
told that Tom developed “a warm
friendship” with a fellow student, Mr. Thomas Paul, “duringtheir
College course”between November 1790
and April 1795 and that Lefroy visited Paul
family “and, very soon, an attachment sprung up between him and Mr. and Mrs.
Paul’s only daughter ”

This is
not really new, but I think the Westminster school part that’s related now to
the Lefroys of Ashe does bring a little bit more light on what Jane Austen knew
and wrote in her books as related to Tom Lefroy and his engagement to Mary Paul. I
still have to check Mansfield Park for the Westminster school connections with
Henry Crawford & J.Henry George Lefroy.

In the
Memoir also, I found an interesting note that I think will connect once again the
surroundings from the “unseen portrait” with Tom Lefroy:

“...written
while he was keeping his Law Terms at Lincoln’s Inn, that would rank
high...During his stay at the Temple, he resided with his grand uncle, Mr.
Langlois, in London, and attended daily at Westminster Hall, where,
in the Courts presided over by such men as lord Eldon and Lord Kenyon...”

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

I have a special reason for using the following quote this week.
My granddaughter and I went to see a local presentation on stage of
"Pride and Prejudice" with local actors. And that is why this quote is a
wee bit late. I must say that it was beatifully done, the actors were
superb, the script well done, and the stage props lovely! I had no
idea that the local folks were quite as capable of putting on such a
lovely show! I am now inclined to go see some of next seasons
presentations.

So, from Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 1 I quote:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

That
is of course, a very well-known sentence, but it does carry lots of
wisdom also. And dear Jane proves it with the rest of the novel.

Sunday, 9 September 2012

I have chosen this letter from Jane's Love and Friendship. It is part of Lettter The Firth - From a Young Lady Very Much in Love to Her Friend. It is regarding this letter sent from Mr Musgrove to Henrietta:

Sackville Street: January 7th

It is a month today since I first beheld my lovely Henrietta, and the sacred anniversary must, and shall, be kept in a manner becoming the day - by writing to her. Never shall I forget the moment when her beauties first broke on my sight - no time, as you well know, can erase it from my memory. It was at Lady Scudamore's. Happy Lady Scudamore to live within a mile of the divine Henrietta! When the lovely creature first entered the room, oh! what were my sensations? The sight of you was like the sight of a wonderful fine thing. I started - I gazed at her with admiration - she appeared every moment more charming, and the unfortunate Musgrove became a captive to your charms before I had time to look about me. Yes, madam, I had the happiness of adoring you, a happiness for which I cannot be too grateful. "What!' said he to himself. 'Is Musgrove allowed to die for Henrietta?' Enviable Mortal! and may he pine for her who is the object of universal admiration, who is adored by a colonel, and toasted by a baronet! Adorable Henrietta how beautiful you are! I declare you are quite divine! You are more than mortal. You are an angel. You are Venus herself. In short, madam, you are the prettiest girl I ever saw in my life - and her beauty is increased in her Musgrove's eyes, by permitting him to love her, and allowing me to hope. And ah! angelic Miss Henrietta, Heaven is my witness how ardently I do hope for the death of your villanous uncle and his abandoned wife, since my fair one will not consent to be mine till their decease has placed her in affluence above what my fortune can procure. Though it is an improvable estate -. Cruel Henrietta to persist in such a resolution! I am at present with my sister where I mean to continue till my own house which, though an excellent one is at present somewhat out of repair, is ready to receive me. Amiable princess of my heart, farewell - of that heart which trembles while it signs itself - Your most ardent admirer and devoted humble servant, T. Musgrove.
This letter is then described by Henrietta to her friend Matilda as "Such sense, such sentiment, such purity of thought, such flow of language and such unfeigned love in one sheet."
I quite agree!

Pic: Buddha and true love
Extract from link above: "Life has a great need of the presence of love, but not the sort of love that is based on lust, passion, attachment, discrimination, and prejudice."

Sunday, 2 September 2012

This is quite a story for a simple quote,
but it pulled at my heartstrings, so I have to tell it!

I noticed our copy of the movie "A
Little Princess" and decided to watch it.It was the ending that really made a point in my own life.Briefly, the story is about going from riches
to rags and back to riches.

At the end of the movie the young girl, Sara,
is speaking with her Father's friend, Mr. Carrisford, who makes her rich again.The conversation goes thusly:

Mr.
C.:"What are you thinking,
Sara?"

Sara:"I was just thinking about your
question, why Karma should have treated me so cruelly.I believe it was to teach me a lesson."

Mr.
C.:"What lesson?"

Sara:"There are so many poor people in the
world, I took my Papa's money for granted, you see.But I had no idea what it was like not to
have any."

Mr.
C.:"It taught me a lesson,
too.That money doesn't buy
happiness."

Sara:" But it prevents people from starving,
though, doesn't it?And gives them a
roof over their heads."

Mr.
C.:"Yes."

Sara:"I remember one day, when I was
particularly hungry, there was little girl outside a bun shop who was even
hungrier than I was.I wonder what
became of her, what becomes of all other children who don't have enough to
eat.I wish I could help them."

------------

Next Mr. C. and Sara visit the bun shop
where Sara offers to pay for any buns the Mistress gives to any hungry child
who comes by.The Mistress of the shop
has taken in that hungry girl, Anne, that Sara had given buns to even though at
the time Sara was poor and hungry.Sara
and Mr. C. leave the shop and

Anne
says:"Who is she, Ma'am?I thought she was poor like me!"

Mistress:"Poor?That little one's never been poor.Not even when she hadn't a penny to her name."

------------------

The movie ends with Sara saying:"It's
the magic, that's what it is.The Magic.Remember I told you that when things are at
their blackest, the magic always comes to your rescue?Well, it's come.It's just like being a princess after
all."

-----------------

My Point being - that no matter how bleak
life may seem, it could always be worse.Now what has that got to do with our own Tom Lefroy.Well, I must quote him.The quote is a letter Tom wrote to his wife
from the "Memoir of Chief Justice Lefroy" on page 47 at this site:

TO HIS WIFE.

Castle Connell,

Wednesday.

She is a striking instance how utterly inadequate what is called
firmness or strength of mind is to contend with affliction. Nothing can do that
but what teaches us that it is good for us that we are afflicted, and makes us
see through our very heaviest trouble the merciful purpose of Him who makes us
perfect by suffering, but who at the same time that He sends the rod, holds out
the staff also. There is in true piety a humility of mind, a bowing down of the
spirit, an acquiescence in all that comes, as coming from the source of love,
which proceeds from faith to patience, from patience to resignation, and from
resignation at length kindles into joy, that holy joy which is allied with
peace, the joint offspring of that Holy Spirit who alone can bind up the broken
heart and pour oil into those wounds which set human consolation at defiance.
If, in prosperity, we prepare for trials, we shall never be taken entirely by
surprise ; and this I believe is another way by which religion makes good its
promises of increased comfort, even in this life.

T. L.

His language is a bit hard for me to cipher
out, but I hope I get the gist of what he means because I think it is
beautiful.It puts into words my own
belief.And to think he wrote those
words so long ago - over 150 years!

Also, to put the quote in context, it is
best to read at least the preceding pages from page 45.I think I must read the Memoir in its
entirety!

The moral of the story reminds me of the
old saying "I cried because I had no shoes until I saw the man who had no
feet."

Welcome to "Becoming Jane" Fansite!

This site is co-managed by Icha and Rachel with materials from many resources, particularly supplied by Linda, our Associate Librarian, and our co-admin Mariana.

If you have any articles or information about Jane Austen, Tom Lefroy, or Becoming Jane (or even just to say hello), please email Icha and Rachel. As long as the content rhymes with our purpose to promote the movie and fandom, we will post it here happily. Also, please sign the Radovici Petition to reprint Radovici's book on Jane and Tom.

You're welcome to use the findings we have here in online conversations (web-based), but please acknowledge us as the reference.

Thanks, and blessings to you!

People's Choice Award: Independent Movie

Jane Austen Regency World Awards: Best New Film, Best Actress, Best Actor

Support the Hathavoy Petition

Our friends Nancy, Michelle and Sophia are rolling a petition to have Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy pairing up again in a movie, with happy ending this time. Support them (and Anne and James as well) by clicking this We Love Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy petition. Thanks!

What are your favourites Jane/Tom scenes?

Other favourite scenes?

About Jane Austen

Jane Austen was born on 16 December 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire.In 1789 she wrote her first novel, Love and Freindship (intentional mis-spell), amongst other very amusing juvenilia. In Dec 1795/Jan 1796, she met Thomas Langlois Lefroy, an Irishman who would often be considered an important part of her life. In 1811, Austen's first novel Sense and Sensibility was published anonymously ('By a Lady'). Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813 and received instant popularity. Despite her romantic novels, the writer herself never married. In early 1816, Austen suffered an illness (either Addison's or Hodgkin's Disease), and on 18 July 1817, she died at the age of forty-one in the arms of her sister, Cassandra, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral.

Total Pageviews

Our visitors came from...

Visitor Counter

Anne Hathaway’s skilful portrayal of Jane Austen in Becoming Jane shows that art can have as much power to bring us closer to the truth as facts themselves can.

Jon Spence, 4 December 2006, Becoming Jane Austen

I could certainly see why Jane would have been attracted to Tom Lefroy if he was anything like this portrayal by James McAvoy!

Sue Hughes, March 2007, Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine

McAvoy knew his portrait of Tom could only come alive with the right Jane, and he found Anne Hathaway almost supernaturally suited for the part. “I don’t think we could have chosen anyone better to play Jane Austen," he says.

Synopsis of 'Becoming Jane'

Jane Austen’s greatest love story was her own

It was at the end of 1795 when the young Jane Austen met the dashing Irish rogue Thomas Langlois Lefroy. Jane would not realise that from prejudice and innuendos between her and Tom, a fresh bud of passion would grow into love that would last for years to come, literally changing her way of looking into life and giving her new insights into her already blooming creative writing. Yet, Tom Lefroy was not a man of wealth, and thus his family needed him to find a more suitable partner than the last daughter of the Austens. Will reality defeat love, or will love triumph in Jane Austen’s life?

James McAvoy as Tom Lefroy, Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine March 2007

Source: the U.S. Official Site

‘I’m yours, Jane, heart and soul!’

~ Tom Lefroy to Jane Austen, ‘Becoming Jane’

Source: www.annie-hathaway.com

Anything is to be preferred or endured rather than marrying without affection – JA, 18 November 1814

Source: BBC UK

Nothing can be compared to the misery of being bound without Love, bound to one, & preferring another – JA, 30 November 1814

Source: www.annie-hathaway.com

There could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison, no countenances so beloved...

‘Persuasion’, chapter 8, Jane Austen

If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more ...

Mr. Knightley to Emma in 'Emma', Jane Austen

Source: www.annie-hathaway.com

To be so bent on marriage, to pursue a man merely for the sake of situation – is a sort of thing that shocks me.

Emma Watson, the Watsons, Jane Austen

What value would there be in life if we are not together?

~ Tom Lefroy to Jane Austen, 'Becoming Jane'

Source: Tiscali website

'Irony is the bringing together of contradictory truths to make out of the contradiction a new truth with a laugh or a smile.'

~ Jane Austen, 'Becoming Jane'

Disclaimer

Becoming Jane Fansite is a non-profit site for Becoming Janefans, created to accommodate articles, news, pictures, reviews, fan fictions, comments, etc with regards to the beautifully exclaimed Miramax movie Becoming Jane and anything related to Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy. The site is NOT an official site of 'Becoming Jane' and hence not affiliated with the movie. Yet, we hope that the site helps to immortalise your love and passions to Jane Austen, Tom Lefroy, Becoming Jane, Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Julian Jarrold and all crews and casts of the enchanting movie. The administrators reserve the right to delete inappropriate comments/messages.

Wallpaper by Alessia

Managers

The film Becoming Jane has given us an image of Jane Austen that liberates our imagination. I envy readers of my book who come to it with Anne Hathaway’s image of Jane in their mind’s eye. You will not have to struggle against the image Cassandra created to see the Jane Austen who was young and pretty, lively and in love. Anne Hathaway’s skilful portrayal of Jane Austen in Becoming Jane shows that art can have as much power to bring us closer to the truth as facts themselves can.